Divergence Online?

[TripleDES]

After taking another sweep across random MMO related sites in hopes of finding some nice scifi game being in development, I ran across Divergence Online. From the descriptions and ideas in their "knowledge base", this game is supposed to go past where SWG went, making it some sort of wet dream.

But since that's basically schpiel from them, I guess you need to take this with a grain of salt. However am I curios if anyone else knows more about this.

[Yoru]

Interesting. Their site sucks for information, though.

 From what I've been able to Google and otherwise scour... It's being built by "Stainglass Llama Studios". They're seeking funding and want to release in Q4 2007. They're using the BigWorld engine, which is good, I've seen a peek of it on the workbench and it seems to be solid tech that can be pretty easily molded to make a decent game. They'll probably have something functional and release-able at some point thanks to that, unlike some other first-run would-be MMO dev-houses.

That said, I've never heard of any of the people listed on their site, so who knows if this is more than a couple college students with an engine license and some big dreams.

[Signe]

I saw a post from one of the devs or staff or something on MMORPG.com earlier today.  He said this in a thread on roleplaying:

One character per account.

One server for all subscribers.

The players, their guilds, and their policies hold the power to bring the planet into a new age of utopian enlightenment and brotherhood, or devastate the countryside, burn every city in sight, and self destruct the planet itself into a million pieces, permanently killing every player character in the game and ending the storyline.

Personally, I'm anxious to see what people decide to do with our game.

If that isn't real roleplay, I don't know what is.

Maybe it'll be interesting and fun.  And it's nice to see you, 3xDES.  I sort of thought you sold the computer and ran off to live on a tropical island with bikini clad triplets from Scandinavia or something.

[WindupAtheist]

The players, their guilds, and their policies hold the power to bring the planet into a new age of utopian enlightenment and brotherhood, or devastate the countryside, burn every city in sight, and self destruct the planet itself into a million pieces, permanently killing every player character in the game and ending the storyline.

Wanna bet which one happens?  Hell, this blurb makes me want to join up and grief my way towards the Apocalypse.

[Soln]

yer mean

[Signe]

The players, their guilds, and their policies hold the power to bring the planet into a new age of utopian enlightenment and brotherhood, or devastate the countryside, burn every city in sight, and self destruct the planet itself into a million pieces, permanently killing every player character in the game and ending the storyline.

Wanna bet which one happens?  Hell, this blurb makes me want to join up and grief my way towards the Apocalypse.

Well, duh!  What did you think I meant by interesting?

[Merusk]

It would become a contest.  "Hey I bet my guild of disaffected griefers can destroy the world faster than yours." "Can, not! You're on!"

Ahh,  internet anonymity how predictable you are.

[WindupAtheist]

Feet, could you maybe try to find an avatar that isn't horrible to look upon?  Just once?  You know, to surprise people?   

[Righ]

In that regard, you're hardly the one to be casting stones.

[WindupAtheist]

righ hates black people lol

[stray]

[edit] Was going to criticize their website, but.....Eh.

[Venkman]

They're using the BigWorld engine

The Bigworld suite (more than an "engine", as it includes a number of things on both server and client side) works pretty good in theory. I wouldn't go by DnL though, since I think they just used the dynamic load-balancing of the server rather than the entire suite.

What I wonder about though is this "Q4 2007" goal being combined with "seeking funding". If they were making some sort of Flash zone-based MMOG using SmartFox or something, maybe. But a full 3D-world where everyone can do everything they did in SWG/Eve and affect the world permanently? In a year? From a previously-unheard-of group?

Outlook not so good. /8-ball

[stray]

What I wonder about though is this "Q4 2007" goal being combined with "seeking funding". If they were making some sort of Flash zone-based MMOG using SmartFox or something, maybe. But a full 3D-world where everyone can do everything they did in SWG/Eve and affect the world permanently? In a year? From a previously-unheard-of group?

Outlook not so good. /8-ball

They must have missed that particular course in Game Development that said "You're out of your fucking mind if you think you (Yes, you, dickweed!) can make an MMO. Go do something else."

[schild]

MMOG #242.

Woop.

[Signe]

Feet, could you maybe try to find an avatar that isn't horrible to look upon?  Just once?  You know, to surprise people?   

I like it when my avatars disturb you.   

[TripleDES]

Maybe it'll be interesting and fun.  And it's nice to see you, 3xDES.  I sort of thought you sold the computer and ran off to live on a tropical island with bikini clad triplets from Scandinavia or something.

I sold my car and kept my computer. Can't drive with all those palm trees around.

[Yoru]

They're using the BigWorld engine

The Bigworld suite (more than an "engine", as it includes a number of things on both server and client side) works pretty good in theory. I wouldn't go by DnL though, since I think they just used the dynamic load-balancing of the server rather than the entire suite.

I'm aware; like I said, I've seen some bits of it 'behind the scenes' and I'm positively inclined to it.

The main issue is that there's yet to be a really stellar BigWorld MMO put out, and given this team's inexperience, I'm unwilling to give them the benefit of the doubt that they'll be the ones to do it.

[Venkman]

I agree. Citizen Zero wasn't really much more than a tech demo if I recall (kinda like how Ryzom emerged from Nevrax wanting to offer a service I guess). Stargate Worlds may be the first high profile game to feature the middleware. The big thing lots forget about middleware though is just how much "middle" is. Anyone can get servers and development tools. They're fairly proliferate. It's the content, the budget to spend the time to get talented folks who care, and then the money to market it.

Even putting aside the chance this team could pull off a game itself, schild is straight on with his MMOG #242 comment. Just being an MMO is nowhere near enough anymore. You're either Blizzard/SOE/Mythic or you've got to justify, through a lot of shows and advertising, why someone should even give you the time of day.

[Yoru]

I'll give 'em the time of day... once they have something playable out. But then, I'll try most anything that isn't a straight-up Diku.

[Furiously]

Did anyone else read it as Deliverance online?

Trying to escape from being raped by hill people while rafting...

[WindupAtheist]

You can either create Utopia or else PK teh w0rld.  It's like Raph has been out-Raphed.

[Yegolev]

I'd say out-Teppyed.  Smells like Egypt.

[Rhonstet]

A game where griefers can PK the entire world at once?!?! 

Where do I sign up?!

*continues inhaling chemicals only approved for industrial use*

[LC]

It was deleted from mmorpg.com because the screenshots they released were all fakes. (rendered)

[JoeTF]

Just read their executive pitch.
3 guys. 35M yearly projected income. Just 3.5M investment. Not a single word about EVE and Tabula Rasa.

FLS is 46 man big + contractors, have been developing their game for two years and yet they need another year to finish it.

Those guys want to make it with 3-10 people in one year. Either they didn't even write "Hello world!" app in their whole careers or are planning to snatch the money and run to Mauritius as soon as possible:D

[Yoru]

Rendered screenshots? Ridiculous promises? Tiny, inexperienced dev team?

I smell a Dawn-scented rat.

[CadetUmfer]

Can someone tell these guys that "C+" is not a language?

[UnSub]

ARISE!

After 7 years dead, Divergence Online bursts from the ground, wanting only $50k in crowdfunding to shamble onwards! $10 will buy you a beta spot.

 

[Draegan]

Holy fucking necro.

[Sir T]

Is there a word for necromancy crossed with archeology?

[Shannow]

Is there a word for necromancy crossed with archeology?

Indiana Jones 4.

[Gets]

Is there a word for necromancy crossed with archeology?

Indiana Jones 4.

No, that's astroscatology.

[UnSub]

Ahh, it all makes sense. The creator is an ex-Anarchy Online RPer who thinks they can do better. Lord knows why you'd have up a wiki with gems like:

Because he avoids speaking about his younger life, exact details of where and when Ethan was born and raised are as of yet, factually unsubstantiated. It is commonly accepted he was born in Decatur, Illinois on October 2, 1980 as the eldest son of Kenneth and Donna Casner.

Ooo, so mysterious. Good thing there are some facts about his early life that are commonly accepted, because otherwise I wouldn't know what to believe.

During this time Ethan began dabbling with character design as Funcom began allowing players themselves to influence the game's story arch and impact the (virtual) world around them. Ethan's foremost character, Shakkles Ganes began being included more and more in officially sponsored events and working closely with Funcom storyboard personnel.

He was practically a Funcom employee.

This decision meant that there would no longer effectively be a player-run story of any type. After heated words between Ethan's team and Funcom reps, Ethan and his group left Anarchy Online never to return.

So Divergence Online is just a particularly intricate "I QUIT!!!!" post.

Casner began spending a fanatical-amount of hours devoting himself to the creation of his brave new world and all within it. He grew a beard and by this time relied completely on wearing glasses due to his severely-impaired vision.

Only the truly dedicated man can grow a beard.

It was at this time that Casner began to pay himself a salary while neglecting to tell his business partners.

No, please, take my unprotected crowdsourced money.

Still soldiering on, the three continued work only to have Casner start to limit the input and work of his two business partners. Fed up with basically be forced out of the loop and not recognized for their contributions, Childress and Flak left the project. Casner alone soldiered on,

This is the end of many a mod.

Stemming from a previous vehicular accident, Ethan suffers from Split-brain as well as Alien Hand Syndrome caused by damage to the corpus callosum; the connecting tissue between the two hemispheres of the brain. He also exhibits minor impairments resulting from prior injuries inflicted by former girlfriend [name redacted] to his neck, eyes, and lower right leg.

Err... okay. Which makes me feel a bit for the guy, but certainly not want to give him any money to complete the project.

Casner openly endorses the controversial (and illegal) practice of Church burnings

Yes, the burning down of churches is an interesting position to have publicly associated with you. 

[Lantyssa]

More like Deliverance Online...

[HaemishM]

What...

the...

Fuck?